Closure



Sept. 4, 1934. J. P. BURKE 1,972,087

CLOSURE Filed May 5, 1952 AITORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATESAPxrsrn OFFICE 7 Claims.

'This invention relates to closures.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved closure means,especially applicable to containers made of a thin pliable material suchas a metallic or non metallic material, particularly the latter.

One possible application of the invention is in connection withcollapsible containers or tubes made of celluloid, cellophane, or thelike, which possesses the advantage that the contents are visible. Suchcontainers may be made of thin sheet material, which, while having ampletensile strength, possesses Very little body or stiffness. The problemin containers of this typeis to provide a reliable and easily controlledclosure which ycan be repeatedly opened and closed and which will retainthe tube contents without leakage or loss of moisture. One manner ofeffecting the desired results, is to utilize a substantiallyconventional type of closure and provide an improved manner ofinf-xpensively reliably connecting the same tothe celuloid tube. It istherefore an object of the invention to provide an improved device ofthe type mentioned and an improved method and apparatus for making thesame.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thenature set forth having relatively few and simple parts, and which maybe of unitary construction, durable, neat, reliable, and

eilicient to high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists m the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subljoined claims, andillustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated bythe same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation with parts in sectionshowing 4a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing an apparatus andmethod for making the device of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing an apparatus and method for makingthe device of Fig. 1.

Fig.` 5 is Va fragmentary view in elevation with parts in sectionshowing a modification of the closure means.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a further modication of the same.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device shown inFig. 1 in closed position. P YThe terms celluloid and cellophane areused F u i, as the full equivalents of each other, and

are also intended to cover other synthetic resinous compositions.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art ,to which this inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merelyas showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Generally described, this invention relates to the provision of closuremeans for collapsible tubes and has general application to anyconnections for tubular members having pliable walls. The tubularmembers may consist of a soft thin metal, or of fibrous material, or ofcompositions in the nature of celluloid, cellophane and the like. I havefound that celluloid possesses a high degree of tensile strength, and iseasily Worked. Accordingly I associate with said material a member ormembers of rigid or less pliable metal, or composition material and forma uniform strong engagement therebetween. The engagement may be along anangular or curved surface to afford an interlock. For example, a meanssuch as a clcsure device may be used having interrelatively movableinner and outer members, between which a portion ofthe tubular member orcontainer is .fixed and reliably interlocked as by a spinning, foi ing,or resilientvsnap action. Then again, a soft metal sleeve, having morestiffness than the celluloid may have threaded engagement therewith sothat a conventional removable threaded cap plug may be employed. Suchthreaded engagement may be provided by simultaneously forcing a threadin the celluloid member and in a soft metal sleeve, to thereby providean interlock. Heat may at the same time be applied to increasepliability of the celluloid, and when the celluloid contracts oncooling, it maysnugly grip the sleeve if the latter be internallyplaced.

Referring in etail to the drawing, 1o denotes 105 a device embodying theinvention. 'I'he same may include a tubular member such as a collapsiblecontainer 11 made of a soft metal such as lead, or of a brous orcomposition material, preferably such as celluloid, or other transparentmaterial. 1Y0 The lower end of the containermay be closed in anysuitable manner and need not be shown. The upper end of the container.may be variously formed, as by terminating in a conical portion l2which may have a neck 13. The latter may have the end 14 of such shape,preferably hemispherical, as to aord a suitable seating surface.Coacting with the neck, one or more members may be provided adapted toafford a'suitable degree of support thereto. and preferably toco-operate in 12 closure relation therewith, as at an opening 15 thatmay be formed in the neck. One of the members 16 may be in the nature ofasleeve of a soft metal seated in the neck 13. This sleeve may have acurved upper portion 17 cooperating in snug engagement with the portion14 of the neck. At its lower end the sleeve may have a skirt portion 18extending under and reenforcing the conical portion 12. Disposed on theoutside of the neck 13, a movable closure member or cap 19 may snuglyuniformly embrace the same. 'Ihe member 19 may be of a rigidconstruction, and may be made by casting, stamping or molding the sameof metal or synthetic resinous materials. Members 16 and 19 may haveopenings 20, 21 of which the former may be in permanent register withopening 15 of the neck, while opening 21 may be movable into and out ofregister with opening 15. The member 19 may also have a bevel or cut 01Tat 22 to afford'a thin edge for its opening 21.

A simple interlock between members 16 and 19 with the neck l3'may beprovided, especially if the member 19 be rotatable for opening andclosing. For instance, the inner member 16 may have a projection or anannular ridge 23 outwardly pressed therein, and the outer member 19 mayhave a groove 24 adapted to mate with said ridge. The intermediateportion of the neck 13 is correspondingly pressed or deformed at 25 asshown. The precise mode of cooperation of the elements 13, 16 and 19will be more readily perceived on contemplating the mode of manufactureof the device as hereinafter described.

If a stop engagement be desired to limit the degree of rotation of theclosure member 19, the latter may have an elongated recess 26, intowhich may extend a projection or stop 27.

For making the device l0, an apparatus 28 or the equivalent within thebroad principles of the invention, may be employed. Thus the apparatusmay include a tool head 29 having a curved, or otherwise shaped spinningend 30. This head may be hollow for receiving a spindle 31 which may beconnected thereto by a pin and slot connection 32, 33. The inner end ofthe spindle may have a wedge shaped or conical end 34 that may bearagainst a pin 35 slidingly mounted in an opening in the head 29. Thespindle 31 may be rotated and axially moved by a suitable head 36 whichmay be rotated in any desired manner. For movably interconnecting thehead 36 with the spindle the latter may have a pin 37 engaged in a slot38 of the head. If it be desired to exert a resilient axial force on thespindle, an expansion coil spring 39 may be provided acting between thehead 36 and a shoulder 40 on the spindle.

The manner of operation of the device 28 will now be described. The toolhead 29 being inserted into a device to be worked, rotation of the head36 is begun and simultaneously an axial force is exerted thereon. Suchcombined rotary and axial movement may be caused by any suitable device41. As a result the spindle 31 rotates and moves axially relative tohead 36 and the spring 39 is tensioned, exerting a resilient axial forceon the tool head 29 by reason of the pressure of the conical portion 34against pin 35, the latter being confined against the wall of thearticle being worked, to form a groove therein as shown in the device 10while the curved end 30 performs a spinning operation for a Wall of thearticle. It will be appreciated that various parts of the apparatus 29may be omitted, and others substituted therefor. Thus the pir 35 may beeliminated and the spring 39 may act directly on the tool head.

The manner of making the device 10 Will now be briefly described. Thesleeve 16 is placed in the neck 13, and the cap 19 is superimposed uponthe neck. Then the tube 11 being open at its lower end, the tool 29 isinserted into the sleeve, while the cap 19 is securely gripped and heldstationary in any suitable manner. Then the axial force is applied tothe rotary tool head 29, causing the same to spin and expand the sleeveinto snug engagement with the neck 13, while the end portion 30 causes auniform seating engagement to be spun between the ends 14 and 17 of theneck and sleeve and so that a uniform closure is afforded between thecorresponding end portions of the cap, tube and sleeve about theopenings at 15, 2U and 21. Simultaneously, the ridge 23 is outwardlypressed to form a permanent interconnection between the several parts ofthe closure. If increased pliability or plasticity be desired for theportion 25 of the neck, heat may be applied thereto in any suitablemanner, or the tool may frictionally generate suflicient heat. Theprojection 27 may be subsequently formed in any suitable manner.

Due to the resilient or yielding pressure of the apparatus 28, thepressure on the end of the closure at 17 is controlled so that possibledistortion of the celluloid neck is avoided.

If it be desired that a maximum pressure be exerted on that sphericalzone of the closure determined by the opening 20, the tool head may beshaped correspondingly, as by using a slightly flattened curved endportion 30, the flattened part being at the extreme end at 42. 'I'hiswill also cause a part of the neck and sleeve member to be bulgedslightly outward at 43 into opening 21, if the latter is out of registerwiththe openings 15, 20 in the spun position, and with the bulge alinedwith said opening 21. Such slight bulge will in operation snap into theopening 2l, but the closure or bulge part will yield slightly to moveout of opening 21 when the closure is opened and moved so that openings15, 20, 21 are in register. The bulge will thus assure that the openingcan be closed in an absolutely liquid tight manner. The openings 15, 20,21 may, however, be formed, as by drilling, subsequently to the spinningoperation.

It will be noted that the celluloid neck -13 may constitute a sealingliner between the parts 16 and 19 of the closure.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modification of the invention including a device44. The same may embody various principles hereinbefore described, andmay include a celluloid tube or container 45 that may have a neck 46 andan internal soft metal sleeve 47 therein, arranged to have a thread forengagement with a. closure member such as a cap 48. The members 46, 47,48 may be made of any of the materials herenbefore mentioned. 'I'hesleeve and neck may have an opening or be open ended, and the sleeve mayhave a bottom re-enforcement ange 49. The thread may be of any desiredpitch or character, but, preferably the teeth thereof are rounded asshown. A snug and reliable interengagement is provided between the neckand sleeve by the thread, the sleeve affording a stiiener for thecelluloid neck. Upon the tubular or neck structure thus provided, thecap may be screwed and unscrewed as desired, the thread of the capdirectly engaging the celluloid. It will be appreciated that thisdevice, involves generally the interlocking thread between a collapsibleand a re-enforcing wall regardless which is interiorly disposed.

An apparatus for making the device y44 is shown at 50. The same includesa plurality of external and internal thread forming members, either ofwhich may be movable with respect to the other, for rolling or pressingout the threa ti. For example, a female die' member 51 may have anopening 52 provided with an internal thread 53. This die may be suitablyfixedly mounted at 54, and may have associated heating means such aselectrical heating coils 55. At its lower end, the die may be providedwith a seat 56 that may be of conoidal or other form to afford a restfor the adjacent part 57 of the tube 45. Alined with the die 5l, is aclamping member such as a sleeve' 58, that may be movably carried by anarm 59. The sleeve 57 may have a seat 60 corresponding tothat at 56 soas to clamp with the latter the flange 49 and tube portion 57therebetween. The seat 60 may be of irregular or rough character tosecurely grip the fiange 49 and prevent the sleeve 47 from accidentallyturning. A similar holding arrangement may be used in Fig. 4 togetherwith a device for holding the closure cap. Extending through theclamping sleeve 58 is a male die or tap 61 carried by a shaft 62 havinga feed part 63 threaded with a pitch equal to that of the tap. This feedpart 63 is threaded through alxed member 64, and rotation may beimparted to the shaft 62 as at 65 to cause the tap to cooperate with thefemale die.

In operation, with the tube and sleeve 47 clamped as shown, the tapenters and creates a threadin the walls of the neck 46 and sleeve 47 bypressure, while heat is simultaneously applied to the neck. `L The endportion 66 of the tap may be slightly tapered to facilitate the start ofthe thread. A single operation is sufficient to complete the thread andinterlock the parts of the neck of the closure. Due to the highexpansibility of celluloid, when the device is cooled, the celluloidneck contracts tightly about the sleeve 47 and affords a positivereliable engagement which cannot be separated.

In Fig. 5 is shown another modification of the invention, including aclosure means 67 having a tube 68 of Celluloid or other pliablematerial, said tube having a conical shoulder 69 and a neck 70. Coactingwith the neck is a means for releasable engagement with a closure, and,if desired, an associated means may be employed for supporting a portionof the neck and facilitating the formation of a puncture therein. 'I'husthe neck may have an initially imperforate end wall 7l. The supportingmeans therefor may include inner and outer tubular members 72, 73respectively, which may snugly embrace the neck therebetween, and mayhave end walls 74 formed with registering openings 75. Said members mayalso have depending skirt portions 76 for reenforcing therebetween apart of the conical shoulder 69. The outer member 73 may have a threadedportion 77 for engagement with a screw cap, while the inner member maybe engaged in the neck in any suitable manner as by a press fit, or withadhesive or the like, it being understood that members 72, 73, or eitherof them, may be made of any desired material whatever. A simple form ofconnection, is to provide an annular recess 78 in the outer member and acorresponding ridge 79 on the inner member so as to adapt the latter tobe sprung or snapped into position, the neck yielding sufciently underthe effect of heat, or

pressure or other conditions. If the container differ from thosepreviously described in that the reenforcement 82 for the neck 33 may besleeved externally thereon and formed with a common thread therewith,the edge portion of the tubular member 82 having connection with theneck as by an inturned clamping flange 84. The member 82 may also have afinger piece 85 whereby a grip may be maintained so that a closure capmay be operated without strain on the collapsible container 86. Asimilar finger piece may be provided in Fig. 5.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same issubmitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense,'the scope ofthe invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device including a tubular substantially cylindrical element ofpliable material, a stifener sleeve fitted within a portion of thetubular element, the latter and the stiffened sleeve having peripherallydisposed interengaging formations, and a member movably seated on thestiffened portion of the tubular element.

2. A collapsible tube having a neck of thin collapsible sheet material,a hollow stiffening member in the neck, and a movable closure on saidneck, said neck constituting a liner between the stiiening member andthe closure.

3. A device including a tubular element of thin pliable sheet material,a stiffener sleeve fitted within a portion of the element, and a memberexternally movably mounted upon the stiffened portion of `said element,said sleeve and member having openings controlled by interrelativemovement therebetween, said sleeve, member and stiffened portion of thetubular element having deformed interengaging portions for controllingrelative movement therebetween.

4. A device including interrelatively movable hollow members fitted onewithin the other and having openings controlled by said interrelativemovement, a liner of. thin sheet material between said members andsecured to one of them, and one of the members having a slight yieldingbulge portion adapted to register with the opening in the other memberin the closed position of the device.

5. A device including a tubular element of thin pliable collapsiblesheet material, and a tubular stiflener member, the element and memberbeing snugly fixedly fitted together side by side and having a commonthread formed in both of them.

6. A collapsible container having a neck and a tubular elementexpansively fitted therein and having a common thread whereby the neckand element are interconnected together and a closure can be threadedlyconnected with the neck.

7. A collapsible container consisting of cellulose material and having aneck, and a. soft metal tubular member fitted within the neck andthreadedly connected therewith for interlocking the member and neck, anda closure member removably engaged with said thread.

JAMES P. BURKE.

